The decision was confirmed in a letter viewed by RTL.
The discussion began in May 2024 when CSV MP Jeff Boonen mentioned that the CSV had rejoined the committee this year, during a debate in the Chamber of Deputies. This news, however, came as a surprise to the committee, as Paul Polfer, one of the three coordinators, confirmed the CSV had sent over a contribution of a hundred euros and had not initiated further contact.
Boonen explained:
“We must admit the mistake was on our side. In 2022, the committee asked every member to reconfirm their commitment to the three principles, and to date we have not yet done that. That’s why there has been some back and forth over our membership, as I said we had rejoined because we had paid the contribution, but that alone is not enough. Fortunately we have held discussions to clarify this.”
In a meeting to clarify the CSV’s position with the committee, it transpired the party only agreed with two of the committee’s three basic principles. A consensus was struck to push for renewable energies and to advocate for the closure of nuclear power plants in the border region.
However, the CSV could not agree on all three, Boonen elaborated:
“We believe we should still invest in nuclear research, in areas such as radioactive waste, safety and fusion reactors. But the committee is very clear that their third principle hinges on there being no more money invested into nuclear energy. So we decided this was not mutually acceptable and therefore the CSV will withdraw from the committee.”
Polfer told RTL the meeting had been “super fair and accurate”. Of course, the committee would have preferred the CSV to remain a member, but they would respect the party’s choice, he added.
The CSV now joins the ADR as the only two parties in the Chamber of Deputies who are not members of the action committee against nuclear power. Luxembourg’s major trade unions are also members of the committee.
Polfer said now there was clarity, although one could only speculate as to the CSV’s reason for their change of heart. Prime Minister Luc Frieden had previously made it clear to Brussels that it was important to keep an open mind towards new technologies.
